What she realized was that though her own sister Rachel was wanted and pursued, Rachel herself had her own demons to deal with including jealousy and anger. After 7 years of service, Jacob’s uncle Laban tricked him into marrying his eldest daughter Leah. Leah. Look at the body language in Michelangelo’s statues of Rachel and Leah, two of the wives of Jacob.The virtuous and fully robed Rachel (below) may be dressed in clothes that resemble a nun’s habit, but Leah (right) is definitely not. There are many lessons we can learn from this story, but to me, it's the emotional undercurrent that I am most fascinated with. These are high definition (HD) versions of the VHS Genesis Project videos that I uploaded a few years ago. By God's grace and your will power you can forgive. Her clothes are modest enough, but they reveal the curves of her body. Leah Is a Paragon of Gratitude. Rachel (Hebrew: רָחֵל ‎, romanized: Rāḥêl, lit. ( A) the land of the people of the east. May we be reminded that God’s plan for our lives doesn’t always end up with us being the star of a romantic comedy, being the most popular, or named the most beautiful. Leah Is First. Let’s take a look at 3 of the ways Leah and Rachel’s story can teach us about the security we can only find in God. Leah to go through with the festivities and wedding night without revealing herself and Rachel to stay out of the way. God Didn’t Make Every Woman Equally Beautiful, Physically. But for Leah, the Lord had given her the ability to bear children. Leah was Jacob's first wife, and the older sister of his second (and favored) wife Rachel. He saw how she was not loved as she deserved to be and because of her age or lack of suitors she was married to a man that desired someone else… her own sister. “Again she conceived, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “Now at last my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” (Genesis 29:14). Because of Leah’s blessing to bear Jacob children, this in turn, created jealousy inside of Rachel. One of the best things we can do after reading a verse or verses is to start asking questions. He stills pursues her heart, even if no one else did. Finally Rachel gave birth to a son herself. Unlike Ishmael and Esau, who go on to father their own separate tribes, both Rachel and Leah and their respective handmaidens birth the tribes that make up … Jacob however was in for a nasty shock. It might be helpful to ask other believers to pray with you. Her aunt Rebecca was Jacob's mother. The name Rachel gave to her son reflects the sorrow and hurt she lived through. Genesis 29:14. Leah wins the contest. After figuring out what happened, Jacob is then married to Rachel a week later but only after he promises to work another seven years for Laban. After Laban asks Jacob what his wages should be, it is noted that “Jacob was in love with Rachel and said, ‘I’ll work for you seven years in return for your younger daughter Rachel.’” (Genesis 29:18). God did bless Rachel with conceiving a child but because she wanted more, as jealousy had its way, she became pregnant again. Her loves include Jesus, her family and friends, creativity, playing guitar and singing, coffee, laughing, and of course, writing! Because of this, God gave special attention to Leah, and enabled her to have four sons. With hostility growing towards him Jacob decided it was time to do a run again. As if to rob more salt into Rachel's wounds Leah herself got sexually active with Jacob again and gave birth to another two boys and one girl - Issachar, Zebulun and Dinah (Genesis 30). He did not want Leah, he wanted Rachel. We learn from Rachel that if we aren’t grateful for the blessings we have, and trust that God is enough, jealousy will always make us want more, insatiably. She has three more sons, namely Simeon, Levi and Judah, but does not bear another son until Rachel offers her a night with Jacob in exchange for some mandrake root דודאים (dûdâ'îm ). Feeling overlooked or not good enough can be a deep hurt and can snowball into feelings of being less than, forgotten, or the fear of not being wanted just because you haven’t been picked yet. She died during child birth. 14 RACHEL & LEAH You can read more of her writing on  her website www.myjoyousheart.com and connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram. Jealousy is an ugly emotion and something that we all can, unfortunately, relate to. This was in line with the custom of the day. On the way back Rachel gave birth to another son called Benjamin. I like to take care of myself and, while I know that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, I also know that my body and physical strength will fade with time. Do we still tend to prioritize the qualities we notice about ourselves or others on physical characteristics first? How to Be Supportive Grandparents in a World You Don't Quite U... California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. On marrying Jacob she found herself unable to have children while Leah gave birth to four - Reuben, Simeon, Levi and Judah (Genesis 29:31-35). The remarks of Rachel and Leah in Genesis 31:14-15 (NIV). We see this when she was naming her fourth child, Judah, “She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “This time I will praise the Lord.” (Genesis 29:35). If you love God you will forgive those that have hurt you and refuse to harbour bitterness in your heart against them. (17) Leah was tender eyed.--Leah, whose name signifies languor, weariness, had dull bleared eyes. Just when it looked like things were looking up for Rachel another twist comes. The stone on the well's mouth was large, 3 and when all the flocks were gathered there, the shepherds would roll the stone from the mouth of the well … Rachel today as well would be the ideal lady who many men would sacrifice for, but in God's eyes it seems like a Rachel without a Leah is a fable. It was noted that Jacob’s “…love for Rachel was greater than his love for Leah.” (Genesis 29:30). The Bible describes Rachel as having 'a lovely figure and was beautiful' while leah was unattractive (Genesis 29:17). “Rachel’s day of happiness dissolved the moment Laban instructed her older sister, Leah, to disguise herself in Rachel’s wedding garments.” {Women of the Bible} One can imagine that Leah was apprehensive about the plan. 1.Mention some of the troubles that Rachel and Leah faced in their home?2.Can past actions of our parents still affect us today?3.How can we prevent this?4.What were the weaknesses of Rachel?5.How many children did Rachel eventually have?6.Can God bless us despite our background?7.Why is it so important to forgive. He was called Joseph (Genesis 30:22-24). So they have similar themes and may share a few stories, but they are different. Laban then made Jacob work a further 7 years before he could marry his youngest daughter Rachel, who had been Jacob’s first choice of his bride ( Genesis 29:18-30 ). She called the child's name Ben-oni, meaning son of my sorrow, but Jacob renamed him Benjamin - meaning son of my right hand (Genesis 35). A weekly Bible verse to help combat comparison; Optional six interactive teaching videos, approximately 5-10 minutes per session, available for purchase or rent; Benefits: Discover what the Bible says about God, Rachel, Leah, and Jacob, and how He used flawed people for His kingdom. Both Leah and Rachel happily agreed to go back to his home with him (Genesis 31). Both Rachel, Leah and Jacob were bitterly hurt by this deception (Genesis 31:14-16). Hope that helps clarify! He had done her wrong. 13 Bible results for “rachel and leah.” Showing results 1-13. See Leah and Rachel competed for the attention of their man Jacob. We all need to be careful of the hurts and emotional wounds that may follow us from our background and circumstances in life. We won’t be promised a pain free life but what we are given is so much more. Tricked by his father-in-law into marrying his true love’s sister, Jacob waited 14 years before he could be with Rachel. 'ewe') was a Biblical figure, the favorite of Jacob's two wives, and the mother of Joseph and Benjamin, two of the twelve progenitors of the tribes of Israel.Rachel's father was Laban.Her older sister was Leah, Jacob's first wife; their mother was Adinah. Bitterness destroys (Hebrews 12:15). She bore him multiple children and it was clear that each time she would hope that he would finally want her as he did Rachel. I am grateful for this verse as it reminds me that what God sees as greater worth to the kingdom is not the outward beauty but the heart within. Jacob is the grandson of Abraham and introduced in the Bible story of Jacob and Esau. Food for thought from the recorded discussion God makes no mistakes and although our human eyes will find pleasure in one person more than another, and for good reason (ex: marriage), we must not bank on our attractiveness to be all that we stand on. GRAB YOUR BIBLE AND READ GENESIS 29:1-3 . book, Security only found in our outward appearance with no internal strength of faith and endurance will not last the good fight. It would not have been a pleasant place. They fought for his admiration, each wanting to be the most loved, the most prized, all depending upon the number of sons they gave him. Leah means a wild cow or ox. In the Bible study Rachel and Leah, author Nicki Koziarz uncovers the truths you need to arm yourself with when combating comparison by studying the biblical account of Rachel and Leah. What Does Scripture Say about How to Handle White Privilege? As a woman, we are designed to be pursued. Then Laban said to him, “You are my own flesh and blood.” [ Jacob Marries Leah and Rachel] After Jacob had stayed with him for a whole month, In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations. Starting with Leah, we see at the very beginning that she is not only described as the less attractive sister but also that her father used the fact of her being the oldest and still single sister as reason to trick Jacob into marrying her first. She is the mother of Jacob's first son Reuben. Learn to define success through a biblical perspective. In this story of Jacob, Leah, and Rachel we see how God worked through this family to bring about His will by their sons eventually making up the twelve tribes of Israel. How does this sit with you? Jacob soon fell in love with Laban’s younger daughter, Rachel, and agreed to work for Laban seven years in exchange for marriage to her (Genesis 29:16–20). In the case of Leah and Rachel, I think it’s safe to say that both of them had to deal with the ugly side of jealousy by feeling it themselves and being on the receiving end. • Revel in God’s good work in your life even when days seem hard. So, what do we take from this? Rachel's life should stand out as a warning for us and not a mirror of our life. Rachel, with whom Jacob fell in love, was Laban’s younger daughter; and she “was beautiful of form and appearance” ( Genesis 29:16-17 ). Just as he had deceived his own father many years ago (Genesis 27), so now Laban was to deceive him. • Understand the story of Rachel and Leah more deeply. Leah’s first mention in the Bible comes in the story of Jacob. Her security eventually turns from a human to her heavenly Father. Here was a home where children were used as tools of revenge. I can’t put words into her mouth or thoughts into her head, but I think it would be safe to say that Leah may have had some jealousy at the attention that her younger sister received over her. Leah, the eldest, had eyes that were “delicate.”. Laban and his sons were getting irritated at how well Jacob was doing. 29 Then Jacob went on his journey and came to. After getting your heart right with God, you can then pray and break the curses that might have been let loose in your life because of the actions of other people. Did jealousy ultimately kill Rachel? Home | Bible studies | Contact us | Audio message | Subscribe | About us | Aboutfaith.co.uk | Site Map | Search, Check out our new and evolving YouTube Channel, Home > Bible studies > Women of the bible > Rachel & Leah - Women of the Bible. Only Jesus can heal these kinds of aliments. The swindler had been swindled. You see, God enabled Leah to have four sons because “… the Lord saw that Leah was unloved…” (Genesis 29:31). Leah found her security in her Lord and no one could take that away. Mandy Smith is a joyful 30-something single living in GA. She is a full-time Speech-Language Pathologist. The Kli Yakar tells us this implies that Jacob loved Rachel even more “through” understanding the great sacrifice Rachel made for her sister by giving her to Jacob. Rachel was the younger sister of Leah and daughter of Laban. I love how God had a special place in his heart for Leah. 2 As he looked, he saw a well in the field, and behold, three flocks of sheep lying beside it, for out of that well the flocks were watered. A beautiful young woman, she won the heart of her cousin Jacob and became his second wife. A White Bread Faith - Crosswalk the Devotional - March 21, 9 Prayers for Returning Back to Normal after COVID, The 10 Most Overlooked People in Your Church, 10 Mighty Prayers for Your Adult Children, 10 Things You Need to Know about the Unforgivable Sin, How to Deal with the Complex Emotions of a Rainbow Baby, How to Be Supportive Grandparents in a World You Don't Quite Understand, 10 Unrealistic Expectations that Can Destroy Marriages, 5 Ways to Parent Well, Even in Survival Mode, How to Equip Your Son to Fight Spiritual Battles, This site is a proud member of the Salem Web Network, a subsidiary of, Copyright © 2021, Crosswalk.com. Leah was a loving and faithful wife. “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes.Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight” (1 Peter 3:3-4). Leah asked Jacob to sleep with her maid Zilpah and she too gave birth to two sons - Gad and Asher. Bilhah gave birth to two boys. I urge you to read it for yourselves from the Word, but to help you understand where I am coming from here in this article, I'll briefly summarize how it all gets started. When the seven-day marriage ritual with Leah was complete, Jacob immediately married Rachel. (Genesis 29). It was at Laban’s that Jacob met Leah and Rachel. Learn to define success through a biblical perspective. It’s a really nice sentiment that we like … Jealousy can creep up into any type of situation and does not just affect one type of person more than another. Spiritual Growth and Encouragement for Christian Women, 10 Things to Do Right Now That Will Change Your Future, A Prayer to Strengthen Your Prayer Life - Your Daily Prayer - March 22, 10 Christian Hymns That Need to Be Put to Rest. It is in your own interest that you forgive. On the opposite side, we can only imagine the deep longing that Leah had to be wanted by Jacob. The Blessed Mother The Scriptures points out, that during this time of emotional hardship for Leah, Rachel was found to be barren and could not have kids of her own at this time. Unsurprisingly Rachel's name means 'ewe' - a female sheep. Unfortunately, Rachel died in childbirth. All rights reserved. Fleeing revenge from Esau he arrived at Laban's house. I am sure that made Rachel feel like the queen of the ball that a man desired her that much. Laban, her father, accepted and asked that Jacob would serve him 7 years in return ( Genesis 29:16-20 ). Leah and Rachel both compete over who will bear the most sons to Jacob. A weekly Bible verse to help combat comparison; Optional six interactive teaching videos, approximately 5-10 minutes per session, available for purchase separately Benefits: Discover what the Bible says about God, Rachel, Leah, and Jacob, and how He used flawed people for His kingdom. There is no doubt that Leah lived a hard life, and had every reason to … After the seven years, and on the wedding night, Laban deceived Jacob by giving him his oldest daughter, Leah, instead of Rachel. What questions can you think of to ask about these three verses? Laban offered his nephew Jacob a place to stay. In Genesis 30:2 we read Jacob’s angry response to Rachel’s frustration. Rachel was Jacob’s first love and primary wife. You pray for something, wait earnestly, receive the blessing, and then the ugly monster of jealousy says, “It’s not enough!”. is a regular book, while Rachel and Leah is a Bible study. Rachel's troubles had only just began. The names of the his 12 sons reflect this tug of war between the sisters and contain prophecies to be fulfilled hundreds of years later. That’s between her and God, but it does seem her rage to one-up her sister in heirs took her life in an awful downward spiral. Jacob (the son of Isaac, Grandson of Abraham) had fallen in love with Rachel … Sheep can be docile animals. He notices Laban's younger daughter Rachel and falls in love with her. In the Bible, she is first described as having “weakeyes, but Rachel had a lovely figure and was beautiful.” (Genesis 29:17) If the only adjectives used to describe me in a story were that I had weak eyes, well, I wouldn’t feel very good about myself. It can be clear that Jacob’s negative reaction to waking up with Leah as his bride, and not his desired pick Rachel, was taken by Leah as a flashing neon sign of rejection. Jacob Marries Leah and Rachel. 3 Biblical Reasons to Get the Sleep You Need, How to Be There for a Friend Who Has Miscarried. Article Images Copyright ©. This gave her a higher status than Rachel, who had difficulty becoming pregnant. Linda, Why Her? The story of Leah, Rachel, and Jacob is quite a dramatic love triangle. What sticks out to me is that things aren’t always as they seem. Rachel had every cause to be annoyed with her father. These need to be dealt with. Scripture shows that Rachel didn’t take this very well. In the case of Leah, she was rejected, dealt with the emotions of jealousy, and deeply desired to be pursued. When those seven years are over the father then plays a big switcheroo on Jacob and gives him the older sister, Leah, instead on his wedding night. Not to be out done Rachel asked Jacob to sleep with her maid Bilhah. After seven years of hard work Laban tricked Jacob into marrying the older sister Leah - a lot of wine and a veil over the head of Leah during the wedding did the job. As we see in Jacob’s deep desire for Rachel to be his bride, he worked for Laban not just 7 years, but 14 years even with a big switcheroo played on him in the middle. Jacob and Laban worked out another deal for another seven years of service. So she said to Jacob, ‘Give me children, or I’ll die!’” (Genesis 30:1). Have you ever felt left out, looked over, or rejected? The Bible study will be more interactive, asking you to dig into Scripture and answer questions. She and Jacob were very much in love and could have made a wonderful couple. Before giving the actual reason behind the strife between Rachel and Leah lets take you through a little background history: Jacob fell in love with Rachel and asked to marry her. As we will see for Rachel, the security one would expect a person to have that is deemed lovely and beautiful was temporary as her jealousy grew. Ask God for healing and a restoration of all the things that evil has caused. Rachel and Leah —two sisters, the two wives of Jacob, and two of the matriarchs of our people.Rachel and Leah—two powerful but contrasting personalities, each representing a world of her own. However, things did not have to go the way they did. But this did not satisfy Leah. Does this resonate with you? The Bible describes Rachel as having 'a lovely figure and was beautiful' while leah was unattractive (Genesis 29:17). The rejection, jealousy, and the desire to be pursued are emotions that are still familiar in this modern day. A man named Jacob begins working for Laban. Genesis 30: Bad Blood Between Leah and Rachel: Rachel and Leah began to develop bad blood; Leah, at this point, was four children in on Rachel which can lead to the feeling of being higher and mightier.Rachel lashed out at Jacob but took matters into her own hands by giving Jacob permission to wed Bilhah her handmaid (for the sake of having children). ALSO AVAILABLE Rachel & Leah Teen Girls’ Study, Why Her? Watching other women being pursued, taken care of, and loved by a man that is the physical manifestation of love here on earth can be hard. “When Rachel saw that she was not bearing Jacob any children, she became jealous of her sister. This probably hits pretty close to many of our single hearts. What Can Leah and Rachel Teach Us about Security in God? This only intensified the rivalry between the two sisters. It’s by God’s design that our hearts race when we are pursued in a romantic relationship by a man that our heart also desires. Even though her husband Jacob favored Rachel, Leah remained committed, enduring this unfairness through faith in God. God saw the rejection that Leah faced, and knew what having sons would mean to her. The Bible says in Genesis 29:30 that “ Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah. Because Leah’s story in the Bible is so intertwined with that of her sister, Rachel, and their husband, Jacob, she often goes unnoticed, living in …
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